How do I free range ducks by themselves?

[Dynasty and Delta]

Hello BYC, in April of this year two ducks eggs I got hatched and the ducklings imprinted on me. Now about almost half a year later they are strong, happy, and healthy ducks. The problem is that they are super dependent and don't free range unless I am in the yard with them. When I leave them to go inside for something they go and hide in my bushes and do nothing, but when I come back they act like normal ducks and nothing happened.

To solve this problem I have just simply been leaving them to explore my backyard and they have made little progress. Before when I would leave them by themselvesl for an hour they would just sit in the bushes, but after four days of doing this they go and swim and explore a bit. Don't get me wrong in the hour they are alone they still sit in the bushes for forty minutes, but they swim and explore for the other twenty.

So, do yall think what I am doing will work and how long do you guys think until I can leave outside while I'm at school(my mom is still home if something happens like a predator attack)?

 

[Canadian Wind]

How about gradually leaving them for longer periods? Once they start exploring and swimming and stuff, let them do that a bit longer.

 

[fatty and friends]

my ducks are almost 4 years old and still sit right by the door whenever they take naps through the day they do play in the yard alone a lot more than they used to though!

 

[ProudRedneck]

Ducks love consistency. They will learn, just as they are now that you will come back and when they finally get up to forage while you are gone is when they feel they are outside of the normal routine and will start creating their own. You are doing fine and the longer you leave them out by themselves, the shorter time it will take them to start foraging on their own and doing ducky things without you.